After your well water testing is completed at your Loudoun County, VA home, you should have your well disinfected by a well or pump contractor, such as SES Mid Atlantic, LLC.
In the event that there is an emergency – and you have to attempt to disinfect your well yourself – here are the steps the EPA recommends that you follow:
- Gather your tools and materials: One gallon of unscented household liquid bleach, rubber gloves, eye protection, old clothes, and a funnel.
- Check the condition of your well. Make sure there is no exposed or damaged wiring. If you notice any damage, call a professional before beginning the disinfection process.
- If your water is muddy or cloudy, run the water from an outside spigot with a hose attached until the water becomes clear and free of sediments.
- Determine what type of well you have and how to pour the bleach into the well. Some wells have a sanitary seal with either an air vent or a plug that can be removed. If it is a bored or dug well, the entire cover can be lifted off to provide a space for pouring the bleach into the well.
- Take the gallon of bleach and funnel (if needed) and carefully pour the bleach down into the well casing.
- After the bleach has been added, run water from an outside hose into the well casing until you smell chlorine coming from the hose. Then turn off the outside hose.
- If you have a water treatment system, switch it to bypass.
- Turn on all cold water faucets, inside and outside of house, until the chlorine odor is detected in each faucet, then shut them all off.
- Wait 6 to 24 hours before turning the faucets back on. It is important not to drink, cook, bathe or wash with this water during the time period – it contains high amounts of chlorine.
- Once the waiting period is up, turn on an outside spigot with hose attached and run the water into a safe area where it will not disturb plants, lakes, streams or septic tanks. Run the water until there is no longer a chlorine odor. Turn the water off. The system should now be disinfected, and you can now use the water.
Have your well water testing done for bacteria 7 to 10 days after disinfection.
Please note: depending on the extent of flooding, you may need to have repeat the well water testing at your Loudoun County, VA home multiple times, over many months.
For more information about well water testing and treatment, please contact SES Mid Atlantic, LLC. Serving Loudoun County, VA and the rest of Northern Virginia and Washington DC residential and commercial markets since 1987, SES Mid Atlantic LLC specializes in soil, petroleum, septic, and water services, as well as environmental assessments.